If you've been injured in a vehicle accident that wasn't your fault, you can file a personal injury claim to ask for compensation for your pain and suffering. But don't file that claim on your own – here's why you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you:

A Specialization in Auto Accidents

Not only should you find a lawyer to work with who focuses solely on personal injury cases, but the representative you hire should specialize specifically in auto accidents. Even if they work on other types of personal injury cases, the majority of your lawyer's workload should revolve around injuries related to vehicle crashes of all kinds.

This will help ensure that your lawyer has the experience and knowledge necessary to ensure nothing important is overlooked and that everything from evidence to healthcare reports are handled properly and according to the law. A lawyer who specializes in auto accidents will have a better chance of winning your case overall.

A Manageable Schedule

You should also make sure that the lawyer you hire to represent your personal injury case has a manageable schedule and isn't overbooked for the foreseeable future. If your lawyer has a full workload when you hire them, chances are that your case won't get the time and attention it deserves and you might end up being under compensated or losing your case altogether. Make sure that the lawyer you hire has the time and motivation to take on your case.

Are they available for weekly meetings? How long can you expect it to take to receive return phone calls or emails? How many other active clients are on the lawyer's roster? Ask lots of questions about a prospective lawyer's workload before hiring them so you don't end up frustrated and disappointed with your representation.

Expert Negotiation Skills

If you can negotiate a deal with the other party after filing your personal injury claim, you may be able to stay out of court and save yourself some time and stress. And negotiating a deal means getting paid faster when all is said and done. So make sure that the personal injury attorney you hire has expert negotiation skills. Investigate their portfolio and determine how many of their cases have been negotiated, and how many have ended up in court. An accident lawyer with a strong background in successful negotiations might be able to settle your case in just a matter of days.